LAS VEGAS -- Even at 52 years old, preparing to shift more of his attention away from the technology trade, Bill Gates can pack 'em in.

People waited in long lines Sunday to hear the Microsoft Corp. chairman make his last big address here at the Consumer Electronics Show. In an interview with the Seattle P-I before his speech, Gates talked about the future of technology and discussed his plans as he prepares to go part time at the company later this year.

He also defended Microsoft's year-old Windows Vista operating system from critics and credited Nintendo's Wii game console for its approachability -- saying he expects Microsoft to "match that and do better."

Here are the edited transcripts.

One of the things you're talking about here is the natural user interface -- using things like touch, gestures and voice input. How long until the traditional keyboard and mouse are replaced as the standard?

"I don't think they'll ever be replaced. You can type very quickly. You can think and type at the same time. It's not going to go away. But if you want to sit with someone else and organize photos and pick albums, the keyboard is not an easy way to do that. If you're on your couch, you don't want to use your keyboard.

"There's just a desire to interact in this new and different way, and yet, we've just touched the surface with what we can do with touch, speech, vision."

A year ago here, you debuted Windows Vista. You've sold 100 million copies, but it doesn't seem to have won the hearts and minds of the computing public as much as you would have wanted. What happened?

"I think a lot of people would say it was the best new product of the year in terms of the neat, new things they're using in it.

"They also have very high expectations in terms of having all the (device) drivers there and the compatibility. There's some of those areas where, as the year went on, we definitely did a better job on those things, and there's a bit of a lesson learned there.

"This is a very successful product. We're very proud of it. We're hard at work on the next big version of Windows, and it is the product that the industry tends to build its new applications on."

Have you had any second thoughts about coming out with an operating system with such substantial hardware requirements?

"No. ... We want to take advantage of the new hardware that's out there and the new capabilities. I wouldn't say that the hardware requirements were a tough thing."

Nintendo's Wii game console has at least equaled Microsoft's Xbox 360 in worldwide market share in half the time. In going head-to-head against Sony's PlayStation 3, did you focus your attention on the right competitor?

"Well, the Wii has certainly done well, and they deserve credit for some of their easy entry and how some of the older folks have found that attractive. Clearly we think we can match that and do better. We've got a lot of neat ideas that are coming along in that space.

"One way to look at it is to look at the depth of engagement. If you look at the money spent on Xbox in the United States, it's actually more than the Wii plus the PS3 put together. And so in terms of games bought, hours spent, the richness of what's going on, Xbox is way ahead of any other platform in the United States. That allows us now to go add in some of the ease of use, (and the) simple, immediate-play type gaming that I think was part of the Wii's success."

There's been a delay in your Surface tabletop computers coming to market through your partners. Are you still as bullish on it as you were a year ago?

"Oh, absolutely. (Refers to a touch-screen Surface prototype in the room.) This is this incredibly robust retail format, and you'll see that out in the first half of the year. The partners will be rolling those things out. What we're hard at work on is doing other versions of it that get it down to lower price points and get it into the home and office markets."

Could you see this kind of natural-touch interface being incorporated into more Windows Mobile devices, along the lines of the iPhone's touch features?

"Clearly, high-end phones are going to have touch, and in Windows Mobile, the next big version, making that touch scenario work well is the top priority for them."

You have six months left as a full-time Microsoft executive. What are your goals in your remaining time?

"Well, a lot of it is just making sure that (Microsoft executives) Ray Ozzie, Craig Mundie, Steve (Ballmer) are having me get them ready to take things on full time. That's gone super-well. Those are incredible people who are very enthused about the opportunity they're being given.

"I've got some specific things I do with (Microsoft) Office to look at the years ahead, specific things to do with search, some platform-unification things. So I'll have plenty to keep me busy.

"I have a big schedule, but then, come the end of June, it will be a big change."